RIGHTS OF SCHOLARS

Merits of Knowledge and Scholars

Knowledge is the dearest thing for man, since it is the base of
civilization and the honor of this world as well as the life to come. Scholars
are the prophets’ heirs and supporters of the religion as they guide people to
the recognition and obedience to God and lead them to honesty:

“Say, "Are those who know equal to those who do not know? Only
the people of reason take heed" (39:9).”

Allah will raise the position of the believers and of those who
have received knowledge. Allah is Well-Aware of what you do (58:11).”

“These are parables, which We tell to human being, but only the
learned ones understand them. (29:43)”

The Prophet (s) said: “As for him who takes a way for seeking
knowledge, Allah will lead him to the way that takes to Paradise. As a sign of
their pleasure with the seekers of knowledge, the angels lower down their wings
for them. Every creature that is in the heavens or on the earth, including the
whales, seeks Allah’s forgiveness to the seekers of knowledge. The scholar is
preferred to the worshipper in the same way as the full moon is preferred to the
other stars. The scholars are the heirs of the prophets, who definitely did not
bequeath dinars or dirhams. They only bequeathed knowledge. Thus, he who takes
from that knowledge has surely taken a great thing.”
( 1 )

“On the Day of Resurrection, some individuals will have rewards
as huge as clouds or as great as unshakable mountains. When they will wonder how
they have obtained such rewards that they did not do things deserving them, they
will be answered: “As you in structed people to do good deeds, we recorded for
you the reward of every deed that those people carried out.”
( 2 )

Amir ul-Mu'minin (a) said: “Kumayl, those who amass wealth are
dead even though they may be living while those endowed with knowledge will
remain as long as the world lives. Their bodies are not available but their
figures exist in the hearts.” ( 3 )

Imam as-Sadiq (a): “On the Day of Resurrection, all people will
be gathered on one highland and the scales will be maintained. The blood of the
shahids will be put in a scale and the ink of the scholars in the other. The ink
of the scholars will outweigh the blood of the shahids.”
( 5 )

“On the Day of Resurrection, the worshippers and the scholars
will be interrogated together. The worshippers will be permitted to be in
Paradise, and the scholars will be asked to intercede for others whom they
taught the high moral standards.” ( 6 )

The faithful scholars owe Muslims great rights that should be
fulfilled. They are as follows:

1. Regard of Scholars

To show regard toward scholars is their leading right because of
their being characterized by knowledge and virtue.

The Prophet (s) said: “To look at the face of a scholar, out of
love for him, is a sort of worship.” ( 7 )

“You should be either scholar or seeker of knowledge or loving
the scholar, and do not be of any other class. To hate the scholars leads to
perdition.”

Husham ibn al-Hakam, the teenage, visited Imam as-Sadiq (a), who
was encompassed by the celebrities of the Shia—such as Hamran ibn A’yun, Qays
al-Massir, Younus ibn Ya’qoub, Abu Ja’far al-Ahwal, and others, in Mina. As soon
as his eyes fell on Husham, Im am as-Sadiq (a) preceded him to all the others
who were all older than him –i.e. Husham-. When he felt that the attendants were
displeased by this act, Imam as-Sadiq (a) said: “This man has been supporting us
with his heart, tongue, and hand.” ( 8 )

Ahmed al-Bezanti, the scholar, narrated:

I responded to the invitation of ar-Ridha (a) and spent that
night with him. After I had been served dinner, the Imam (a) ordered the
servants to prepare my bed. The most excellent kinds of pillow, bedspread, and
blanket were brought. When I finished my dinner, he (a) asked me whether I
wanted to sleep. “Yes, I want,’ answered I. The Imam covered me with that
blanket and supplicated God for me, ‘God may make you pass this night with good
health.” When the Imam left me, I said to myself, ‘Verily, I have awarded with
such unprecedented great honor by this man.’ ( 9 )

2. Charity to Scholars

The main concern of scholars is to serve the religion, publicize
the Islamic enlightenment, and guide Muslims towards high moral standards. Such
endeavors require time and giant efforts that divert from seeking earnings. It
is then necessary for the believers who observe the religious affairs to save
the means of good livelihood for the scholars, through supplying them with the
Shariite rights of which God orders as well as the other charities. Scholars in
fact are the worthiest of enjoying such rights that enable them to go on
achieving their aims and carrying out their religious tasks without being
distracted by any other factor.

Muslims, in the past, used to volunteer openhandedly to dedicate
some money as waqfs ( 10 ) for saving the
livelihoods of the scholars.

3. Compliance with Scholars

Rational individuals refer to the specialists in the various
fields of life so as to benefit by their experts. In the same manner, Muslims
should refer to scholars in fields of religious teachings and rulings. It is
required to imitate and yield the fruits of the scholars’ studies who devoted
themselves to servicing the Islamic Sharia, propagandizing its rulings, and
guiding people to uprightness. Following so, people will have full awareness of
their doctrine and will be able to resist the rumors of enemies. But if they
neglect reference to scholars, people will ignore the reality of their religion,
principles, and rulings and, subsequently, will be the subject of deviation.

The Prophet (s) said: “To sit with the religious people is the
honor of this life as well as the life to come.” (
11 )

“Knowledge is stored in safes whose key is question. Hence,
you—Allah may have mercy upon you—must put questions, for your questions will
bring rewards for four persons: the asker, the instructor, the listener (to the
question and answer), and the one who loves those three.”
( 13 )

Imam as-Sadiq (a) said: “People perish so long as they do not put
questions.”
( 14 )

Luqman the wise instructed his son: “Son, sit with the scholars
and stick your knees to them, for Allah enlivens the hearts –i.e. intellects-
with the illumination of wisdom in the same way as He enlivens the barren lands
with heavy rain.” ( 15 )